Famous Cowboy Names

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Claim to Fame

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(filmography)

Birth Name

Born-Died

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William S. Hart

Actor in silent screen westerns

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(filmography)

William Surrey Hart

1864-1946

Fritz

Harry Carey

Popular cowboy of silent movies

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(filmography)

Henry DeWitt Carey II

1878-1947

Sunny

Tom Mix

Hollywood's first Western megastar 1910-30s

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(filmography)

Thomas Hezekiah Mix

1880-1940

Tony, Old Blue

Leo Carrillo

Played Pancho, side-kick to the masked Mexican hero The Cisco Kid

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(filmography)

Leopoldo Antonio Carrillo

1880-1961

Loco

Broncho Billy Anderson

First cowboy star of movies

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(filmography)

Max H. Aronson

1880-1971

Ranger

Jack Hoxie

Actor in 1920s silent westerns movies

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(filmography)

John Hartford Hoxie

1885-1965

Scout

Gabby Hayes

Sidekick in western movies

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(filmography)

George Francis Hayes

1885-1969

Calico, Eddie

Kermit Maynard

Younger brother of Ken; Actor in 1930-60s westerns

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(filmography)

Kermit Roosevelt Maynard

1887-1971

Baron, Rocky

Jack Holt

Western film star; father of Tim and Jennifer

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(filmography)

Charles John Holt II

1888-1951

Robin Hood

Eddy Waller

Played Nugget Clark, sidekick of Allan ‘Rocky' Lane from 1947 through 1953

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(filmography)

Eddy Waller

1889-1977

Fred Thomson

Actor in 1910-20s silent westerns movies

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(filmography)

Frederick Clifton Thomson

1890-1928

Silver King

Art Acord

Actor in silent movie westerns

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(filmography)

Artemus Ward Acord

1890-1931

Raven

Buck Jones

Actor in 1920s silent westerns movies

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(filmography)

Charles Frederick Gebhart

1891-1942

Silver, White Eagle

Bill Cody

Actor in 1920-30s western movies

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(filmography)

William Joseph Cody

1891-1948

Chico

Tim McCoy

Actor in 1930-40s western movies; sharpshooter

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(filmography)

Timothy John Fitzgerald McCoy

1891-1978

Midnight, Starlight

Hoot Gibson

Actor in 1920-30s western movies. Rodeo and circus perfomer

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(filmography)

Edmund Richard Gibson

1892-1962

Starlight, Goldie, Mud, Silver

Ray Bennett

Actor in 83 movies, usually in supporting roles

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(filmography)

Raphael Bennet

1895-1957

William Boyd

Played Hopalong Cassidy of TV series

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(filmography)

William Lawrence Boyd

1895-1972

Topper

Ken Maynard

Singing cowboy in 1920-30s movies

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(filmography)

Ken Olin Maynard

1895-1973

Tarzan

Wally Wales

(also as Hal Taliaferro)

Actor in 1920-50s western movies

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(filmography)

Floyd Taliaferro Alderson

(Changed his name back to Hal Taliaferro in 1930s)

1895-1980

Ace, Baron

George Houston

Star of The Lone Rider movies in 1940s

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(filmography)

George Fleming Houston

1896-1944

Shamrock

Tom Keene

Actor in 1930s western movies. Also known as Richard Powers

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(filmography)

George Richard Duryea

1896-1963

Rusty, Prince, Flash

Jack Perrin

Actor in 1930s western movies

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(filmography)

Lyman Wakefield Perrin

1896-1967

Starlight

Buddy Roosevelt

Actor, stuntman in 1930-50s western movies

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(filmography)

Kenneth Standhope Sanderson

1898-1973

Pardner, Tommy

Randolph Scott

Actor in 60 western movies

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(filmography)

George Randolph Scott

1898-1987

Stardust

Guinn "Big Boy" Williams

Actor in 1930-40s western movies; later in TV

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(filmography)

Guinn Terrell Williams, Jr.

1899-1962

Lane Chandler

Long-time actor playing in movies and TV

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(filmography)

Raymond Chandler Oakes

1899-1972

Raven

George O'Brien

Actor in 1930s western movies

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(filmography)

George O'Brien

1899-1985

Mike

Gary Cooper

Starred in many westerns; played Marshal Will Kane in the movie High Noon, 1952

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(filmography)

Frank James Cooper

1901-1961

Fuzzy Knight

Sidekick in westerns, 1929-1960s

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(filmography)

John Forrest Knight

1901-1976

Old Brownie

Ray Whitley

Actor in 1930-50s western movies; wrote "Back in the Saddle Again" song

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(filmography)

Raymond Otis Whitley

1901-1979

Jack Luden

Actor in 1930s western movies

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(filmography)

Jacob Benson Luden

1902-1951

Pal

Tom Tyler

Actor in 1920-30s western movies

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(filmography)

Vincent Markowski

1903-1954

Baron

Ray "Crash" Corrigan

Actor in 1930-50s western movies

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(filmography)

Raymond Benitz

1902-1976

Smith Ballew

Singing cowboy in 1930s

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(filmography)

Sykes "Smith" Ballew

1902-1984

Sheik

Fred Scott

Actor in 1930-40s western movies

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(filmography)

Fred Leedom Scott

1902-1991

White King

Rex Bell

Silent westerns; married to Clara Bow

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(filmography)

George Francis Beldam

1903-1962

Streak, Stormy

Chill Wills

Actor in 1930-50s western movies and TV

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(filmography)

Chill Theodore Wills

1903-1978

Charles Starrett

Actor in 1930-50s in westerns; famous as The Durango Kid

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(filmography)

Charles Robert Starrett

1903-1986

Raider

Dorothy Page

"The Singing Cowgirl" of 1930s westerns

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(filmography)

Dorothy Lillian Stofflett

1904-1961

Snowy

Wild Bill Elliott

Starred in Wild Bill Hickok serial of the late 1930s

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(filmography)

Gordon Ami Nance

(For a while known as Gordon Eliot)

1904-1965

Thunder, Sonny

Johnny Mack Brown

Actor in 1939-40s western movies

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(filmography)

John Mack Brown

1904-1974

Rebel

Duncan Renaldo

Played The Cisco Kid in the 1950s

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(filmography)

Renault Renaldo Duncan

1904-1980

Diablo

Bob Livingston

Brother of Jack Randall; starred in Three Mesquiteers films

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(filmography)

Robert Edgar Randall

1904-1988

Shamrock, Starlight

Tex Ritter

Actor in 1930-50s westerns and singing cowboy

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(filmography)

Maurice Woodward Ritter

1905-1974

White Flash

Andy Devine

Raspy-voiced sidekick "Jingles" in 1950s TV series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

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(filmography)

Andrew Vabre Devine

1905-1977

Joker

Reb Russell

Actor in 1930s western movies

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(filmography)

Lafayette Hummel Russell

1905-1978

Rebel

Joel McCrea

Actor in many western movies and TV shows from 1946-1976

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(filmography)

Joel Albert McCrea

1905-1990

Steel

Jack Randall

Actor in 1930-40s western movies

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(filmography)

Addison Owen Randall

1906-1945

Rusty

Bob Allen

(also as Robert "Tex" Allen)

Texas Ranger in 1930s films

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(filmography)

Irvine E. Theodore Baehr, Sr.

1906-1998

Pal

John Wayne

Appeared in dozens of westerns between 1930-1939; was the first singing cowboy in Riders of Destiny, 1933

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(filmography)

Marion Robert Morrison

1907-1979

Banner, Cochise, Duke, Beau, Steel, Dollar

Bob Steele

Actor in 1930-60s movies and TV westerns

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(filmography)

Robert Adrian Bradbury

1907-1988

Brownie

Gene Autry

One of the first genuine singing cowboys–after John Wayne

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(filmography)

Orvon Grover Autry

1907-1998

Champion

Eddie Dean

Singing cowboy in 1940s westerns

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(filmography)

Edgar Dean Glossup

1907-1999

Flash, White Cloud, Copper

Allan "Rocky" Lane

Actor in 1930-40s western movies

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(filmography)

Harry Leonard Albershart

1909-1973

Black Jack, Mesquite, Feather, Banner, Thunder

Nell O'Day

Accomplished equestrian and actress in 1930-40s western movies

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(filmography)

Nellie Roach

1909-1989

Shorty

Bob "Tumbleweed" Baker

Actor in 1930s western movies

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(filmography)

Stanley Leland Weed

1910-1975

Apache

Dick Foran

Actor in 1930-40s western movies

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(filmography)

John Nicholas Foran

1910-1979

Smoke (Smoky)

Rod Cameron

Actor in 1940s western movies

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(filmography)

Nathan Roderick Cox

1910-1983

Knight

Smiley Burnette

Played "Frog Millhouse" in movies 1935-44. In 1940s, The Smiley Burnette Show

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(filmography)

Lester Alvin Burnette

1911-1967

Ring Eyed Nellie (Black Eyed Nellie)

Jim Newill

Actor in 1940s western movies

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(filmography)

James M. Newill

1911-1975

Alamo

Jim Bannon

Starred as Red Ryder in 1949-50

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(filmography)

James Shorttel Bannon

1911-1984

Thunder

Kirby Grant

Known for his role as Sky King, rancher-pilot, in the 1950s

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(filmography)

Kirby Grant Houn Jr.

1911-1985

Roy Rogers

Singing cowboy of movies, radio and TV; married to Dale Evans

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(filmography)

Leonard Franklin Slye

1911-1998

Trigger

Don "Red" Barry

Starred as Red Ryder in early 1940s

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(filmography)

Donald Michael Barry DeAcosta (or Milton Poimboeuf)

1912-1980

Thunder, Cyclone

Dale Evans

Singing cowgirl of movies, radio and TV; married to Roy Rogers

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(filmography)

Lucille Wood Smith

(Later changed her name to Frances Octavia Smith)

1912-2001

Buttermilk, (Pal)

Buzz Barton

At 5'2", was the shortest cowboy in 1920-30s movies

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(filmography)

William Andrew Lamoreaux

1913-1980

Pee Wee

James Warren

Minor actor in 1940-50s westerns

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(filmography)

James Pringle Wittlig

1913-2001

Wayne Morris

Actor in 1950s western movies

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(filmography)

Bert DeWayne Morris, Jr.

1914-1959

Pete Morrison

Actor in 1910-30s western movies

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(filmography)

George Douglas Morrison

1890-1973

Lightning

Jimmy Wakely

Actor-singer in 1940-50s western movies

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(filmography)

James Clarence Wakeley

1914-1982

Lucky, Sonny

Clayton Moore

Starred in The Lone Ranger on TV 1949-1957

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(filmography)

Jack Carlton Moore

1914-1999

Silver

Johnny Carpenter

Actor in 1940s western movies

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(filmography)

John Carpenter

1914-2003

Patterfoot

Evelyn Finley

Actor, horse rider, stuntwoman in movies, 1940-1980s

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(filmography)

Evelyn Ruth Finley

1916-1989

Ken Curtis

"Festus" on TV series Gunsmoke

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(filmography)

Curtis Wain Gates

1916-1991

Ruth

George Montgomery

Painter, sculptor, furniture craftsman, and stuntman best known as an actor in western films and TV

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(filmography)

George Montgomery Letz

1916-2000

Glenn Ford

Actor in many western movies

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(filmography)

Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford

1916-2006

Richard Boone

Played Paladin of TV series Have Gun, Will Travel, 1957-1963

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(filmography)

Richard Allen Boone

1917-1981

Rafter

Lash LaRue

Actor in 1940s westerns; used a bullwhip against bad guys

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(filmography)

Alfred La Rue

(his father's surname was Wilson)

1917-1996

Rush, Black Diamond

Richard Martin

Played Tim Holt's sidekick, Chito Rafferty, in 29 films

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(filmography)

Richard Martin

1917-1994

Taco

Jane Frazee

Actor in many western movies in the 1940s

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(filmography)

Mary Jane Frehse

1918-1985

Tim Holt

Actor in 1940-50s western movies

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(filmography)

Charles John Holt III

1919-1974

Sheik, Duke, Lightning

Slim Pickens

Rodeo performer, film and television actor, 1950-80s

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(filmography)

Louis Bert Lindley, Jr.

1919-1983

Dear John, Appaloosa

Gene Barry

Starred as Bat Masterson on TV from 1959-1961

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(filmography)

Eugene Klass

1919-2009

Monte Hale

Actor in 1950s, singer at rodeos and circuses

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(filmography)

Samuel Buren Ely

1919-2009

Pardner, Lightnin'

Sunset Carson

Cowboy actor of 1940s; wore guns butt forward

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(filmography)

Winifred Maurice Harrison

1920-1990

Cactus, Silver

Jennifer Holt

Actor in 1940s western movies

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(filmography)

Elizabeth Marshall Holt

1920-1997

Rex Allen

Actor in 19 western movies and singer

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(filmography)

Rex Elvie Allen

1920-1999

Ko-Ko

Harry Carey, Jr.

Actor in 1940s western movies

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(filmography)

Henry G. Carey, Jr.

1921-

Reno Browne, Reno Blair

Excellent riding film star

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(filmography)

Josephine Ruth Clarke

1921-1991

Major

Chuck Connors

Lucas McCain on TV Rifleman series, 1958-1963; Jason McCord on TV Branded series, 1965-1966

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(filmography)

Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors

1921-1992

Razor

Peggy Stewart

Actor in 1930-50s western movies and TV

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(filmography)

Margaret O'Rourke

1923-

Smoky

James Arness

Matt Dillon on 1950-70s TV series Gunsmoke

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(filmography)

James King Arness

1923-

Buck

Dale Robertson

Actor in TV westerns in the 1950-60s and in the TV series Tales of Wells Fargo

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(filmography)

Dayle Lymoine Robertson

1923-

Fargo, Jubilee, Leo, Hannibal

Gail Davis

Actor in western movies in 1940-50s; expert horse rider

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(filmography)

Betty Jeanne Grayson

1925-1997

Target

Audie Murphy

Actor in 33 western movies

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(filmography)

Audie Leon Murphy

1926-1971

Clint Walker

Star of TV series Cheyenne 1955-1962

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(filmography)

Norman Eugene Walker

1927-

Brandy

James Garner

Played Bret Maverick in the TV series Maverick from 1957 to 1960 and Nichols in the TV series Nichols 1971-72

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(filmography)

James Scott Bumgarner

1928-

Peter Breck

Played in westerns, including the TV series Black Saddle, Maverick and Big Valley

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(filmography)

Joseph Peter Breck

1929-

Amanda Blake

Miss Kitty Russell on 1950-70s TV series Gunsmoke

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(filmography)

Beverly Louise Neill

1929-1989

Henry Darrow

Played Buck Cannon's best friend, Manolito Montoya, in the 1960s TV series The High Chaparral

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(filmography

Enrique Tomas Delgado, Jr.

1933-

Dennis Miller

Actor in many westerns; played Duke Shannon on Wagon Train

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(filmography)

Dennis Scott Miller

1934-

I would like to thank Bobby Copland for his contribution to the verification of the information on this page. He has written many books about cowboys, including the following:

Tim McCoy - A Real Rough Rider; $22.00.  NEW, May 2009

Charlie King: We Called Him Blackie.  Retail $15... your price, $8, includes shipping!!!

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Gabby Hayes - King of the Cowboy Comics.  $24

Sunset Carson - The Adventures of a Cowboy Hero.  $21

Smiley Burnette - We Called Him Frog.  $21

Johnny Mack Brown - Up Close and Personal.  Written with the assistance of Johnny's family.  $24

Bill Elliott - The Peaceable Man.  $18

Roy Barcroft - King of the Badmen.  $18

Silent Hoofbeats.  All about movie cowboys and their horses with lots of photos.  $24

B-Western Boot Hill.  THE ULTIMATE COWBOY REFERENCE BOOK with over 1100 entries.  Includes where the cowboys were born, died, buried, and actual obituaries.  This book has been called "a literacy milestone and one of the top-ten cowboy books of all time." $18

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Best of the Badmen.  Over 300 pages with 300+ badmen from A and B-westerns and TV.  $44

Whip Wilson Story.  Complete coverage on Monogram's whip-cracking cowboy.  $13

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